Iran says no-fly zone over Syria would complicate the situation

TEHRAN,April 30(MNA) – The imposition of a no-fly zone over Syria would only complicate matters further in the Arab country, which has been embroiled in a conflict with opposition groups for more than two years, according to an Iranian foreign ministry official. “Such measures will not only not help resolve the issue but also will complicate the situation,” Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Al-Alam News Network on Sunday in reference to the idea of a no-fly zone in Syria floated by the United States. Amir-Abdollahian said, “Many major players in the Syrian issue have come to the conclusion that only a political solution should be found in Syria.” According to the New York Times, so far, the United States has taken limited military steps in Syria but has sent supplies like night-vision goggles and body armor to the rebels fighting the Syria government. But now Senators Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and others would like the United States to do more, possibly by arming the rebels or establishing a no-fly zone to neutralize Syria’s air defense, though they disagreed on the particulars. According to the report, U.S. President Barack Obama had previously said that the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be a “red line” that would set off an American response. On Friday, one day after his administration disclosed that it believes the Syrian government had used sarin gas against Syrian citizens, the president called it “a game changer.” Syria has dismissed the allegations as “false” and “fabricated.” U.S. not capable of attacking Syria: Iranian general On Monday, the chief of the General Staff of Iran’s armed forces said that the accusations of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government were “farcical” and “fabricated”. The claim is a psychological warfare measure against Syria, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said. Asked if the U.S. would attack Syria, Firouzabadi said, “The United States is neither capable of attacking Syria nor will conduct military operation there… They are seeking to escape from Afghanistan. Now, how can they start a new war in another country?”